Master of Arts in Teaching, MAT

Note: The family and consumer sciences MAT teaching area is no longer accepting applicants.

MAT Program Coordinator: Sharilyn Steadman (222 Speight Building; 252-737-2745; steadmans@ecu.edu)

The master of arts in teaching (MAT) includes teaching areas as follows: art education, elementary education, English education, family and consumer sciences education, Hispanic studies, history education, middle grades education, music education, physical education, science education, and special education. The Schools of Art and Design and Music, the College of Health and Human Performance, and departments in the Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences offer subject matter courses and content specific methods courses, as well as supervise interns in specific teaching areas. The full-time program is designed to be completed in twelve months, beginning in the summer and finishing the following summer. Successful completion of the MAT leads to a graduate degree and initial (A) teaching licensure.

Minimum requirements for admission to the College of Education’s MAT program include the following:

MAT applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree in an appropriate discipline as designated for the MAT teaching areas as follows:
- Art education: BFA or BA in studio art.
- Elementary education: baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution.
- English education: English, journalism
- Family and consumer sciences education: family and consumer sciences, family and community services, nutrition, hospitality management, human development, child development, interior design, housing, textiles, apparel design, or consumer economics.
- Hispanic studies education: undergraduate major in Spanish, Hispanic Studies, or Romance Languages with concentration in Spanish and proficiency level in Spanish: Advanced on the ACTFL scale in reading, listening, and speaking, Advanced-Plus in writing.
- History education: history, political science, geography, sociology, law, anthropology, or economics
- Middle grades education: English (Language Arts); mathematics (Math); history, economics or geography (Social Studies); biology, geology, physics, chemistry, environmental science, life science, or earth science (Science).
- Music education: music performance, music business, church music, music theory/composition, or music therapy.
- Physical education: exercise and sport science, kinesiology, physical education, or recreation.
- Science education: biochemistry, biology, chemistry, physics, geology, life science, natural science, physical science, or earth science.
- Special education: baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution.
Overall GPA of 2.7 on a 4.0 scale on all undergraduate work from an institution accredited by a regional association.
Satisfactory entrance examination scores on either the Graduate Record Examination or the Miller Analogies Test.
A completed Graduate School application packet, including the written statement of purpose and three letters of recommendation from persons who can attest to the applicant’s academic competence or ability to do graduate work.
MAT applicants are required to successfully complete an interview with the MAT coordinator and program area faculty.

Upon acceptance into a teaching area, the MAT Program Coordinator serves as the student’s advisor.

The master of arts degree in teaching requires 39-42 s.h. of credit as follows:

Required core courses - 15 s.h.

Teaching area specific courses - 24 -27 s.h.

(Choose from one of the following areas.)

Art education (24 s.h.)

ART 5323 - Art in the Secondary School
ART 5851 - Art in the Elementary School
ART 5860 - Classroom Participation in Art
ART 6024 - MAT Internship
Additional 8 s.h. in teaching area

Elementary education (24 s.h.)

English education (24 s.h.)

Family and consumer sciences education (24 s.h.)

12 s.h. from the following:

Hispanic studies (24 s.h.)

12 s.h. from the following:

(9 s.h. must be at the 6000-level)

History education (24 s.h.)

3 s.h. from the following:

Middle grades education (24 s.h.)

Music education (24 s.h.)

Physical education (24 s.h.)

Science education (24 s.h.)

Special education (27 s.h.)

Admission to Candidacy

Admission to candidacy for the MAT will be met when the following have been completed.

Unconditionally admitted to graduate standing.
Accepted to a program area and assigned an advisor.
Completion of 12 s.h. of graduate credit over and above any entrance deficiencies or conditions.

Transfer Credit

Transfer of credit regulations which have been established by the Graduate School apply to this degree program. Transfer of credit is only accepted when it is fulfilling a deficiency or content area of knowledge.

Residence Requirements

The residence requirement for a nondoctoral degree program is met when a student has earned at least one-half of the graduate degree credit for his or her program while in residence, which is defined as taking courses on the campus of East Carolina University or at designated off-campus residence centers.

Continuous Enrollment (or Registration)

Graduate students who have previously registered for all credits in a graduate degree program but who have not completed all requirements (e.g., thesis, professional paper, internship, etc.) must continue to register each semester (except summer terms) until all degree requirements are completed and filed with the registrar. Under special circumstance, exception to continuous registration may be approved by the dean of the Graduate School. Students must be registered for the semester of graduation (except summer if registered for the preceding spring semester).

Other Requirements for the MAT

General requirements for the completion of the master’s degree are as follows:

39-42 s.h. of course work
A cumulative grade point average of 3.0
Meeting specific teaching area requirements
Must successfully complete the MAT Portfolio